Ketamine

What is ketamine?

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Ketamine hydrochloride is a depressant and acts on the central nervous system as an anaesthetic agent. It is used to make the body insensitive to surgical treatment. It may be used in combination with other medicines to induce anaesthesia. It works by stopping the brain from interpreting messages of pain. Ketamine is also used for veterinary purposes.

Ketamine

(C13H16ClNO)

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Ketamine can be in a clear liquid form or a white crystalline powder. It can be made into tablets and pills and is sometimes sold as ‘ecstasy’. Ketamine is often swallowed, snorted, shafted (inserted anally) or injected intramuscularly. It is sometimes smoked with other substances such as cannabis or tobacco.

One of the more serious effects of using ketamine is that a user may unknowingly harm themselves. There is the potential for people to cut or burn themselves while using the drug.

It may impair your capacity as a parent/primary carer of children.

Some regular users experience flashbacks – the spontaneous recurrence of an experience that occurred while the user was under the influence of the drug. Flashbacks can occur days, weeks or months after a person has used ketamine.

There is also some emerging evidence that repeated use may impair some aspects of memory and cognitive functions.

Long-term, frequent use of ketamine has been linked to personality and mood changes including paranoia and egocentrism, reduced ability to concentrate and depression.

Regular ketamine use is associated with severe bladder and kidney problems. These include problems with frequent urination, problems passing urine, bladder ulcers and kidney problems including renal failure. Prolonged heavy use can result in ‘ketamine bladder’ and swelling of the kidney due to urine flow obstruction. Some users have reported ‘k-belly’ or ‘k-cramps’ (abdominal pain).

Ketamine has been used in drink spiking due to its dis-inhibiting and amnesiac effects that can put a person at risk of sexual assault, rape or theft.

If you think your drink has been spiked:

ask someone you trust to get you to a safe place

ask your doctor to test for the presence of drugs which can be identified through urine or blood tests within 24 hours.

If you feel unwell or suspect that you have been sexually assaulted then call an ambulance or go to the nearest NSW Health Sexual Assault service or Emergency Department.

Drink spiking is serious and illegal. To prevent drink spiking, it may be best to watch your drink, avoid sharing drinks, buy/pour your own drink and don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know well or trust.

Ongoing and heavy use of ketamine may lead to a dependence and tolerance to ketamine, however, addiction is unlikely to occur when ketamine hydrochloride is used as prescribed for anaesthesia.

Tolerance to ketamine can develop very quickly, with people needing more and more to achieve the same euphoric and psychedelic effects.

People who regularly use ketamine can develop a physical and psychological dependence and may find it difficult to stop.

There is limited evidence to support the view that people who are dependent on ketamine experience physical withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking it. However, previous users who report stopping use of ketamine after long term regular use may experience cravings, shaking, anxiety, sweats, and a sense of rapid heartbeat.

If you are experiencing problems with withdrawal, contact your doctor or health centre.

People who use ketamine may fall into an anaesthetised state, the ‘k-hole’. The experience of being in a k-hole varies but generally involves dissociation, which may include feeling socially and physically detached or disconnected from everyone else, having hallucinations and experiencing a distorted sense of time and space.

One of the more serious effects of using ketamine is that a user may unknowingly harm themselves. There is the potential for people to cut or burn themselves while using the drug.

Combining ketamine with depressants such as alcohol, tranquillisers or GHB can slow down the body’s central nervous system and is dangerous. At higher doses ketamine depresses consciousness and breathing and overdose is a significant risk when combined with depressants.

If you can’t wake someone up or you are concerned that they may have sustained a head injury from a drug related fall – call an ambulance immediately – dial Triple Zero (000).

If the person has been mixing ketamine with other drugs or nitrites, tell the NSW Ambulance paramedic exactly what they have taken. Paramedics are there to help. Generally paramedics don’t involve the police unless there is danger to themselves or other people/children, someone dies, or a crime (such as violence or theft) has been committed.

Most drugs have some effect on the unborn baby if the mother uses them and it is not recommended that people use ketamine while pregnant or breastfeeding. Inform antenatal staff of ketamine use and attend regular antenatal checkups.

If a mother uses ketamine while breastfeeding, it is possible that the drug will be present in her milk and have adverse effects on the baby.

It is generally risky to take any drug while breastfeeding without medical advice.

Using ketamine, or keeping, selling or giving it to someone else is illegal. If you are caught you could face substantial fines and penalties including a prison sentence. There have been instances where Ketamine has been used in drink spiking due to its dis-inhibiting and amnesiac effects.

It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs including Ketamine. Drowsiness, impaired mental alertness and coordination, and hallucinations can affect the ability to drive.

Anyone under the influence of Ketamine who kills or injures another person while driving can be sentenced to a term in prison.

na.org.au for Narcotics Anoymous Australia, a non profit fellowship or society of recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean via a program of complete abstinence from all drugs.

*Toll free numbers are only available if you are calling from within that state.

VISIT:​

Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC) provides services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Contact them on (02) 8113 1301 or for counselling and support services for CALD communities call (02) 8706 0150.

Nepean Youth Drug and Alcohol Service (NYDAS) works within a holistic model of care to address a range of issues for young people (12 -20 years) of age related to their alcohol and other drug use. Call (02) 4734 2129 or (02) 4734 1333.

Poisons Information Hotline is a 24/7 call centre service to NSW and after hours call centre across Australia. Call 13 11 26

www.ahmrc.org.au for Aboriginal community controlled health services across NSW. Go to Members/ Members regional map/ Member services or Member websites.

www.alcohol.gov.auprovides information about related health issues and Australian government policy.

smartrecoveryaustralia.com.auSmart Recovery is a voluntary self-help group that assists people in recovering from alcohol, drug use and other addictive behaviours.

Visitwww.tafensw.edu.au for help with education, career development or personal matters. Students can contact a local TAFE / university counsellor. Follow the links to student services, careers and counselling.

www.yourchoiceonline.com.au is an alcohol education program that aims to challenge perceptions about underage drinking and excessive consumption of alcohol and to educate young people about the health, legal and social consequences of drinking.

www.youthaction.org.au Youth Action is the peak organisation for young people in NSW. Use the search option to access a directory of NSW youth services.

youthsolutions.com.aufor services for young people 12 – 25 years of age and the community including prevention and health promotion, drug and alcohol education, community programs and referral. You can also call (02) 4628 2319. [provides services to young people in Macarthur & Wingecarribee].